American Horror Show Freak show definitely delivered another premiere of freaky, creepy drama on Wednesday. The new incarnation of the long-running show features oddities from the heyday of the circus side show freak era, who's days are coming to an end with the advent of television.
Here's a quick recap of the season premiere. Spoilers for those who missed the flesh, blood, freaks, and Monsters Among Us.
The new season is set in the year 1952. The small town of Jupiter in Florida is home to a freak show headed by Kathy Bates' Ethel - a shrewd, bearded henchwoman -- and Jessica Lange's Elsa, a fallen-from-grace star who emulates the classic glamour and elegance of both Dietrich and Monroe.
The dual diary entries of Bette and Dot, conjoined twins played by Sarah Paulson, open the scene and provided extremely opposite viewpoints throughout the episode when they become part of Fraulein Elsa's Cabinet of Curiosities freak show, which Bette likened to being with the movie stars that she adores.
"It is pink and wrapped in silk!" she excitedly exclaims. While Dot described it as, "entering the Gates of Hell."
Dot's description proves to be quite accurate as the entrance to the big top is dominated by the massive, gaping mouth of a devil.
We meet the inhabitants of the sideshow world like Jimmy Darling, the lobster boy (Evan Peters), who's unusual hands are his best asset according to the repressed housewives of Jupiter.
Meanwhile, the regular folk of Jupiter do not take a liking to the freaks from the sideshow and threaten to run them out of town any way they can.
In a twist of sorts at the end of the episode, Elsa reveals her own freak quality that had been kept hidden thus far - she has no legs - making her, not a domineering madam of the show, but rather, one of the freaks herself. Which makes her passion to keep the troupe going all the more vital to her.
Certainly an exciting opener for the newest incarnation of American Horror Story. Watch more of the Freak Show, Wednesdays at 10 p.m. on FX.
